Is Howie Roseman Ahead of the Curve?

The Philadelphia Eagles haven't won a playoff game since Donovan McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins and have missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons. 

So far this off-season the team acquired guards Brandon Brooks and Stefan Wisniewski, signed safety Rodney McLeod, cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks, linebacker Nigel Bradham, wide outs Chris Givens and Ruben Randle, quarterback Chase Daniels and brought back many their own free agents, including Vinny Curry, Lane Johnson, Zach Ertz and Sam Bradford.

The next opportunity for them to further improve the roster will come during Thursday's NFL Draft, in which the Eagles are currently slated to have seven picks. Their initial selection is in the first round, No. 2 overall, and at that spot they figure to take a quarterback - either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff.

"If the quarterback works out there is no question that Philadelphia gets the best of this one," ESPN senior NFL writer John Clayton said on the Sports Bash on Friday. "What Howie Roseman has done is make a statement, the quarterbacks coming out of college after this year are not going to be as good as these two quarterbacks."

New coach Doug Pederson has stated he believes in letting rookie quarterbacks sit and learn for at least one season before throwing them into the fire. Clayton thinks Roseman is the first General manager to realize that the quarterbacks coming into the NFL from college might have to sit, instead of playing right away, like we have seen in the recent past.

"I think he might be the first GM to activate what we may be seeing reluctantly over the next four-to-five years," Clayton said. "The quarterbacks taken out of the draft are going to have to sit, because they are spread quarterbacks."

Clayton noted the next two years of quarterbacks that will be available coming from college in the draft, noting that of the top 10 available quarterbacks not one comes from a pro style offense.

"The spread quarterback is not ready for the NFL," Clayton explained.

"They don't know how to back-pedal, they don't know how to work with the tight end or fullback, doesn't take snaps behind the line-of-scrimmage, he doesn't even huddle - what he basically does is stand there and throw where his coach tells him to throw."

In three drafts during the Chip Kelly era, the Eagles selected just one quarterback, Matt Barkley — a fourth-round pick in 2013 — was traded after just two full seasons with the team.

The last time the Eagles had the No. 2 overall pick was 1999, they chose quarterback Donovan McNabb and while the team did not win a Super Bowl, he did lead them to their most successful era in team history.  Now, 17-years later, the Eagles are trying to recreate that magic with the man McNabb backed-up, Pederson leading the team.

The parallels are striking - Reid was an unknown head coaching commodity, similar to Pederson - who wasn't on any other teams radar, except Philadelphia.

When Reid came to Philly, he brought his back-up quarterback from Green Bay along for the ride, Pederson - who brought Chase Daniel with him to Philadelphia.

Reid walked into the No. 2 overall pick and now Pederson owns that same pick. Reid took McNabb, Pederson wants his version, presumably to sit behind Bradford until the young signal caller is ready, whoever it may be.

The idea that they might spend the second overall pick in this year’s draft on a signal caller has some Eagles fans frustrated, especially when you consider how none of them are likely to be the difference-making player in 2016 or possibility even the 2017 season.

However, Clayton says the thought process is more about the future and not now.

"Howie looked at these quarterbacks and said I don't care if its Jared Goff, I don't care if its Carson Wentz," Clayton stated. "What he's looking at is two quarterbacks that he think are better than the next two-to-three years (of quarterbacks) and I want to be in position to take him because I want to win football games and not be drafting in the top eight."

Clayton, does not see a reason for the Eagles to pass on a potential franchise quarterback just because they may have greater needs elsewhere, like in the secondary, offensive line and running back.

Most people think the Eagles will end up with Wentz as their guy when its their turn to pick - but not Clayton, he thinks Goff will be the player who is available.

"Sure do - history says it," Clayton explained when asked if he thought the Rams would take Wentz over Goff.

"Just look at what Jeff Fisher has done in his career, 6-3, 230 pound small college quarterback Steve McNair. Jeff wants the guy who is going to be the runner, the tough quarterback, the better upside - I think he goes Carson (Wentz)."

Wentz of Goff....seems like to Roseman it really doesn't matter.